1. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
2. And Joash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3. And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begot sons and daughters.
4. And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to renew the house of Jehovah.
5. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah and collect of all Israel money for the repair of the house of your God from year to year, and ye shall hasten the matter. But the Levites hastened it not.
6. And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tribute of Moses the servant of Jehovah laid upon the congregation of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?
7. For the wicked Athaliah and her sons had devastated the house of God and also all the hallowed things of the house of Jehovah had they employed for the Baals.